We’ve come to the end of 2024. I’ve been doing quarterly recaps for several years by giving you a glimpse into my planner. That’s the place where I keep track of everything. But this year, I had to get a new planner. After six years of using Kitlife Planners, I learned that they were no longer publishing print planners. I had to search for a new one. I loved the way my old planner was laid out, so I searched for one that was as close to my Kitlife as possible. I eventually landed on an Ashley Shelly Planner. It doesn’t have quite everything I had been accustomed to, but I got used to it by the end of the year only to learn they weren’t doing daily planners for 2025. So for 2025, I’ll be giving you a glimpse into yet another new planner. 

This planner has a To Do List, Schedule, and Notes area. It also has 3 boxes that I can use as I please. What I loved about my Kitlife is that it had a place for my workout, gratitude list, and meals, so that’s how I label the 3 boxes each month. Therefore, I can continue to track the important things to work on each day: my workouts, my gratitude list, and meal plans. I no longer track self-care on a daily basis because there is a small section at the beginning of each month for me to log what I’ll do for self-care.

So, let’s get on with a summary of October, November, and December 

The Highlights

CEUs – I completed my yearly requirements for continuing education to keep my Mental Health Counselor License current.

Planksgiving Challenge – This annual free challenge happened in November. Dozens of women participated and strengthened their gratitude muscles.

Transformation Challenge – This is becoming an annual December challenge. These five days help women transform their thinking about their approach to the new year and healthy living.

Menopausal Health – I’ve been researching and have decided to take a proactive approach to my hormonal changes. I don’t talk a lot about the supplements that I take, only that I don’t support gimmicky and random supplements and approaches to health and weight loss. However, as we age and hormone levels decline, we can do some things to slow the aging process and to prevent age-related health issues. Speak to an educated health professional about your own journey and best plan for your age and stage of life. My only word to you is to be your own advocate and learn the latest information. There is a lot of outdated information, and many in the medical community have not been educated on the current state of women’s health. 

Kent and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary.

Ethan graduated from Indiana University.

Found on my gratitude list

• Good sleep
• Time with Kent
• Breakfast with Ethan
• Texts with Ben
• Fall weather
• Naps
• Church
• Evening walks
• Christmas lights
• Hormonal support
• Good run
• Community events
• Running friends
• Warm home
• Fun fingernails
• Pedicure

Workouts

Yoga every day. Ten to thirty-minute yoga flows help me wake up my body. They often include stretching and flexibility as well as strength and balance moves.

Cardio. I run most days 2-3 miles, and one five mile run on Saturday. 

Weights. Friends, we must lift heavy things. We can’t underestimate the benefits of strength training. Anything you can do that has you bearing weight on your body will help your bones and muscles and lead to longevity. Not only do I lift two to four times a week, I wear a weighted vest a few times throughout the week on a walk or while I’m doing household chores. 

Walk. I take short walks daily. I try to get outside for a walk around the block in the middle of the day, and my guys and I take a short walk after dinner. These walks are helpful for digestion as well as clearing my mind and spending time with the special people in my life.

I completed 2 events this quarter: Virtual 5K + Santa Hustle 5K – In October, I participated in a virtual 5K for Mental Health Awareness Day. In December, I did the annual Santa Hustle 5K in Indy. Ethan joined me for the race (and beat me by a good five minutes!).

Meals

As I’ve noted before, I don’t advocate for strict meal planning, but I do think it’s helpful to have a plan. This helps you avoid last minute decisions, grazing, or getting carryout every night. I use the box in my planner to plan dinners for the week so that I have ingredients prepared and thawed. I also use it to jot down what I eat most days. It helps me stay mindful. 

Faith

Love God Greatly Bible Studies – Living Faithful in a Faithless Land. This was a study of the book of Daniel. I also completed their Advent study.

One aspect of my Faith and Fitness Support and Accountability Community is studying the Bible together. Each month, we have a memory verse, and we do YouVersion Bible plans together that go along with the theme for the month. This has been a great way to study the Bible and be in community with one another. Throughout the last quarter, we completed Bible plans about mental health and mindfulness as well as comparison and an advent study.

What’s next?

Lifting heavier – I got heavier weights for Christmas. Strength training is the fountain of youth.

Word for the year – Light. Key verse: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NKJV). 

Weigh Your Words Challenge – This annual challenge will happen January 19-25, 2025.

New books – I have two in the works, and I’m close to finishing each of them. This year will be the year I get them published, and they’ll be available on Amazon.

Faith and Fitness Support and Accountability Community – This community will continue to be a safe place for women to build their healthy lives on a foundation of faith. Each month, we have a new faith and fitness focus. New this year, we will be going through the book, The Whole Life: 52 Weeks of Biblical Self-Care. Although this group is month-to-month, many women have committed for the year. However, you can join any time and stay as long as you need. Even if you don’t do the book with us, you might consider getting it and doing it on your own or with a friend.

Cheers to 2025!

 

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